The election is over but the bickering never stopped. Some voters are suffering from "post election stress disorder." Pundits and partisans are stepping up to next face-off: judicial appointments. Yet the country has united on one issue: Vietnam.

Ernest Lefever described the American attitude toward Vietnam: "The two diametrically opposed interpretations of Vietnam continue to vie for the American psyche. Until the issue is resolved, we will suffer from a kind of historical schizophrenia."

The parade of Vietnam Veterans across the stage at the Democrats National Convention received a standing ovation, the first of its kind from the protesting class. The Democrats saw John Kerry's Vietnam service as his most attractive quality. Some countered that Kerry's activities in the 1970's maligned two million American service members. The Swift Boat Veterans questioned if John Kerry's service was as honorable as that of his peers. But all agreed that Vietnam Veterans are national heroes, an admission long overdue by the Left.

John O'Neill shined a spotlight into the shadows and declared: We are not the war criminals John Kerry described. In his 1971 Senate testimony, Kerry had quoted hearsay from an anti-war conference, charging widespread atrocities and American war crimes. None of the testimony was ever verified. Several participants were proven to be impostors.

Forty years later, John Kerry "reporting for duty" exuded pride in his Vietnam service. He had no apology for the fellow soldiers he had described as "a generation of monsters," no explanation to the POWs for advocating a unilateral withdrawal of American forces.

America remembered how Vietnam Vets were treated. "My father had red paint poured on him when he came back from Viet Nam." Dave, now an Army Reservist, recounted. "You can't live a normal life when you're being spit on, when you have bags of feces thrown at you, or when some idiot is dumping red paint on you or calling you a baby killer."

Vietnam Veterans were personified as damaged victims and drug crazed social failures. Yet suicide rates, drug abuse rates and incarceration rates are no higher for Vietnam Vets than for non-vets, Mackubin Thomas Owens reports. In fact, 91% were "glad they had served their country." Broadcasting their proud faces, John O'Neill showed America that the crazed brother hidden in the attic is really the neighboring Grampa who shovels out the old ladies when it snows.

Like looking at a fun house mirror, America saw a reflection of itself distorted by time yet true today. The Iraq war is like Vietnam: O'Neill and his comrades, decorated veterans, pointed out the similarities.

The Media: The Swift Vets prompted a reexamination of the role of the media in undermining national will. The 1968 Tet Offensive, a US victory, was proclaimed a disaster by Walter Cronkite: "For it seems now more certain than ever that the bloody experience of Vietnam is to end in a stalemate."

Cronkite's pessimistic analysis is similar to the current media's declaration of quagmire two weeks into the Afghan War and at the first dust storm in Iraq. CBS's Harry Smith, like many of his colleagues, believes "were sinking deeper into the sand in Iraq." Now like then, some prominent journalists are champions of failure.

The Policy: In time, the once discredited domino theory gained new legitimacy when clusters of countries tipped to democracy, 120 in 40 years, while Indochina and the Middle East remained enclaves of brutal authoritarianism.

It became clear that the modern fascism of Wahabbism and Diobandism is spawned in repressive states, that terrorism has less to do with economic poverty than with political poverty. A free Iraq for a safer America is a statement that has credibility in the 21st century.

The Aftermath: In a 1971 debate with John ONeill, Kerry discussed his proposed policy: I realize that there would be certain political assassinations, and that might take place . then I think to talk about four or five thousand people is lunacy in terms of the overall argument. There were a hundred thousand immediate political assassinations.

A million died. A million fled. A million were imprisoned. These were the civilians American soldiers were working to protect, the Communism they were fighting to destroy.

The Hard Left, urging a quick exit from Iraq, appears to have as little regard for the Iraqis who stand with the US today. After reviewing the aftermath of withdrawal from Vietnam, others renewed their determination to prevail in Iraq.

Recently, pundits asked: "Why are we refighting the Vietnam War when there's a real war on?" America is coming to see one war, from World War One to Iraq War, an ongoing battle for the continued existence of America, in defense of the democratic political system. A wiser America has incorporated the lessons of Vietnam and is not swayed by the media bias, understanding both the Iraq policy and the consequences of its abandonment. The Vietnam Veterans deserve the same place of honor and gratitude as the doughboys and the flyboys. This is the new national consensus. We have the Swift Boat Veterans For Truth to thank for this new national unity, long over due.

Jane Novak is a New Jersey based political analyst and commentator in the US and Middle East. She maintains the blog armiesofliberation.com

It made me ill when Kerry did that ludicrious hand salute and said, Reporting for Duty. The real heros are the ones who didn't backstab their country and fellow Vietnam vets. John O'Neill is sterling and Kerry pales in comparison. The Dems should give him up, he's used goods.

"The Vietnam Veterans deserve the same place of honor and gratitude as the doughboys and the flyboys. This is the new national consensus. We have the Swift Boat Veterans For Truth to thank for this new national unity, long over due."

Amen! I am so grateful to John O'neill and all the vets who worked so hard to get the TRUTH out and expose the true Kerry (and old media)...Still undermining our troops and our mission after all these years.

9
posted on 11/20/2004 2:22:36 PM PST
by MEG33
( Congratulations President Bush!..Thank you God. Four More Years!)

That's an understatement in our house. They saved the Republic from someone who should have been tried, convicted, and shot for treason. And... I would have had no problem in being selected for the squad. Now where's my .308? ....

I agree. But I think all of this rhetoric is a bunch of cr@p. Four years ago, there were a dozen or so lefty Hollywood celebs. swearing they'd exit the USA. Well, they are still breathing American oxygen... Right? Who has left the USA due to W's election in 2002? I'm waithing for the 100k jerks to emigrate to Canada. And good riddance to the disloyal bastards who hate this Republic.

"I think all of us should write to the President and try to get him to recognize and thank the swifties for thier efforts and sacrifices." === NO! I can't stress that enough. That would imply his consent, and President Bush had absolutely nothing to do with them and what they did. Many of the Swift Boat Veterans were not Republican. That is NOT why they went after Kerry!

"I think all of us should write to the President and try to get him to recognize and thank the swifties for thier efforts and sacrifices." === NO! I can't stress that enough. That would imply his consent, and President Bush had absolutely nothing to do with them and what they did. Many of the Swift Boat Veterans were not Republican. That is NOT why they went after Kerry!

Hate to rain on the parade. But I have a different take. It's not over. The battle may be won but it is not the time to rest. Kerry is defeated but he got more votes than any Democrat in history. How was this so? How did this person who so betrayed his fellow soldiers ever make it to the national arena in the first place? Kerry is but a symptom of a larger disease.

The national press did everything to elect Kerry. They are still the filter for most of America. Thanks to Buckhead, and the forum Jim Robinson provides, CBS's attempt to blatantly and fraudulently tilt the election was exposed. But no national media asked Kerry any questions at all. No one asked for the record about the form 180. There is no follow up on his discharge. There is no follow up on his dealings with the Chinese. There is no follow up about his post war involvement with Vietnam contracts (The Haiphong harbor rebuilding) There is no questions about his chairing the committee or co-chairing the committee on POW/MIA. These need to be answered to expose the disease which is the liberal domination of mass media. Otherwise the fraud goes unchallenged and attributed to a vast right wing smear machine. What happened to the CBS investigation? What happened to questioning the timing and coordination between the 527 groups, the networks, and the Kerry campaign. What happened to Sandy Berger? What happened to the CIA leaks? Why did all this suddenly seem irrelevant now that the election is over? Nothing is further from the truth. Now is the time to relentlessly pursue these liberals. They caused the deaths of thousands. Either passively or actively. The latest forbidden saying is to question a liberal's patriotism. I do. When you champion everyone else before your own country. You are not a patriot. When you lie, cheat, and try to steal the election, you are not a patriot. When you leak information harmful to the country in an effort to sway an election, you are not a patriot. When you filter the news so only the negative shows. You are definitely working against the best interests of your country. The Swifties did much. But they still have the bully pulpit and this dragon isn't dead yet. Sorry for the rant. All I see is the danger ahead.

32
posted on 11/20/2004 3:01:00 PM PST
by IrishCatholic
(No local communist or socialist party chapter? Join the Democrats, it's the same thing.)

But, there are still shills on the MSM saying that the "lies and distortions" of the Swifties have been shown. That's a lie as far as I know. NOTHING has been disproved.

Kerry needs to be shown for the traitorous scum that he is - and has continued to be since his days in uniform. I want all the information out there and let him suffer the consequences of the despicable actions he caused.

"You can't live a normal life when you're being spit on, when you have bags of feces thrown at you, or when some idiot is dumping red paint on you or calling you a baby killer."

Yes you can, and do it well. That one nasty liberal attitude is what made many of us conservatives. I wouldn't trade my experience in Viet Nam or when I came 'home' for anything. It is what made me the man, husband and father I am today.

Dear Patriot: Thank you very much for your recent contribution to the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. The only way we can get the truth out about John Kerry is with the help of Americans such as you.

We are proud to have you with us.

Very truly yours, Weymouth D. Symmes Treasurer

I am very proud to be able to support such a group with their fortitude, prudence and justice to protect the American way. Thank you sirs for your efforts and may God bless you each and every one. PROSOUTH

(Note: you really should be listening to the MIDI when singing this...it is written to track with the particular MIDI chosen)

You came to the war zone and...joined us in battle and A swift boat's in your command We didn't know then you were out for yourself And all the things you had planned

You won a few medals and for that you'd settle and There was a record...now you could boast Then you...had turned on us...just when it would hurt us the most You turned on us when it would hurt us the most

Then in Senate hearings with the whole world watching you Your brothers you had defamed We're killers of babies and criminal scum Of us our nation's ashamed

You won a few medals and for that you'd settle and There was a record...now you could boast Then you...had turned on us...just when it would hurt us the most You turned on us when it would hurt us the most

When we came back home we thought we did our duty but People would spit in our face We felt that those jungles in which we had fought Had been a friendlier place

You won a few medals and for that you'd settle and There was a record...now you could boast Then you...had turned on us...just when it would hurt us the most You turned on us when it would hurt us the most

Our kids are serving now...they do it proudly and You tell us you want to lead We'd all walk through hell to be stopping you, John Those words you had better heed

You won a few medals and for that you'd settle and There was a record...now you could boast Then you...had turned on us...just when it would hurt us the most

Listen, people, to the story of the man who won the day We had really dodged a bullet...with his men he would lead the way When he learned that John Forbes Kerry had been working on a plan He could never let that happen...that man's unfit for command

DemocRATS would launch their salvos...he stood up to every blow They used every dirty tactic...but they could not make him go He risked his life once for his country...and stepped up again John O'Neill and the SwiftVets...you will never know finer men

All the lefties got together and they said these men had lied They would not debate the substance...John Forbes Kerry simply denied We watched the charade keep going...records he would not reveal Brokaw, Jennings, and Dan Rather thought that it was no big deal

DemocRATS would launch their salvos...he stood up to every blow They used every dirty tactic...but they could not make him go He risked his life once for his country...and stepped up again John O'Neill and the SwiftVets...you will never know finer men

Voters finally paid attention...Kerry's wounded, and it showed This man was a fake and phony...from his mouth the anger had flowed On a fateful day it happened...on a Tuesday in '04 That is when he was rejected...Kerry had been shown the door

DemocRATS would launch their salvos...he stood up to every blow They used every dirty tactic...but they could not make him go He risked his life once for his country...and stepped up again John O'Neill and the SwiftVets...you will never know finer men

The Vietnam Veterans deserve the same place of honor and gratitude as the doughboys and the flyboys. This is the new national consensus. We have the Swift Boat Veterans For Truth to thank for this new national unity, long over due.

John O'Neill and the Swifties (and the POWs who joined in) should be the Persons of the Year.

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